Sully

By: Chesley B. Sullenberger, Jeffrey Zaslow

Narrated by: Michael McConnohie, Chesley B. Sullenberger

Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

Now a major motion picture from Clint Eastwood, starring Tom Hanks - the inspirational autobiography by one of the most captivating American heroes of our time, Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger - the pilot who miraculously landed crippled US Airways flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew.

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed a remarkable emergency landing when Captain "Sully" Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways flight 1549 onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew. His cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an inspiration worldwide. His story is now a major motion picture from director/producer Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks, Laura Linney, and Aaron Eckhart.

Sully's story is one of dedication, hope, and preparedness, revealing the important lessons he learned through his life, in his military service, and in his work as an airline pilot. It reminds us all that even in these days of conflict, tragedy, and uncertainty, there are values still worth fighting for - that life's challenges can be met if we're ready for them.

Cover art © 2016 WBEI. All Rights Reserved.

Please note: This title was previously released as Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Mattered.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Chesley B. Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Inspiring biography--but incomplete

While I enjoyed the low key storytelling, I was hoping for additional facts, data and information about the NTSB investigation which is included in the movie made from this book. I was glad to have a chance to learn about the challenges faced by air crews and how passenger safety is impacted.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Must listen!!

Well written! I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed the book when Sully starts reading himself. You could feel like you were there a bit!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

For once, the movie will be better than the book

Any additional comments?

Love the story of survival and the lessons of being prepared. But this book has way too much self-focus, right down to the primary-school essays from Sully. Had it been half the length, it would have been spectacular.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Sully becomes your friend, the neighbor you want to talk to as you relax in the back yard

Sully becomes your friend, the neighbor you want to talk to as you relax in the back yard.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Really Dull.

I admire what he was able to do by landing the plane, but this book is BORING!! it's more of a biography of his wife oddly enough.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Loved the move, listening a bit dull.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I watched the movie and feel the story itself is very moving. Listening to the story was a bit like being in a board meeting listening to someone read minutes from a meeting. I felt liked it lacked emotion.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not sure, probably Sully, as that is who the story is about.

Have you listened to any of Michael McConnohie and Chesley B. Sullenberger ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Humility and Gratitude Prevail ...

Beautifully sensitive and real, the book takes the reader into the background and experience of Captain Sullenberger, both before and after the "Miracle on the Hudson". The last couple of chapters are read by him personally, which adds even more depth and sentiment to an already riveting story. Excellent read - looking forward to seeing the newly-released movie and see how it compares.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

love the narration and story of Sully's life

narration was excellent. love the last few chapters Capt Sully read. He is a good man.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Inspirational

Amazing book that not only talked about the epic flight, but about Sully's life in whole. This book was extremely moving and inspirational. I often found myself reflecting on my personal life.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Sully Soars - Don't Wait For The Movie

Every parent, coach, teacher, student and leader should listen to or read this book for three core reasons. (1) it gives you a greater understanding and appreciation for the men and women who are pilots. Next time I fly I am going to be sure to greet the pilot and thank them for their service! (2) it gives you a clear example of the impact we can have when prepare and our growth minded. We all face challenges but if you prepare yourself by learning to grow and stretch yourself those challenges become easier to tackle. (3) it gives you a greater want to love and appreciate those family members and friends around you. Let's face it, life moves pretty fast. It's easy to keep busy and miss what is probably the most important thing-- relationships! This book reminded me to cherish and embrace those relationships. -- they give life substance and meaning!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

An absolute must !!

Being in the Aviation industry myself I found this book incredible, what Sully and his crew achieved in ditching the aircraft in the Hudson has to go down as one of life’s greatest stories, powerful moving and heroic, this man and his crew, the passengers, the rescue teams in NYC pulled together as one. I recommend this book to anyone, its an absolute must, read and delivered superbly, Please Sully write more books !!

A funny thing happens on the way . . .

You will like this if you saw the film. A mixture of personal and public reminiscence of the pilot who achieved the famous rescue of US Airways flight 1549 which landed on the Hudson River after having its engines destroyed by birds. I listened because I had enjoyed the film though Clint Eastwood who directed it felt obliged to put in some unnecessary conflict by suggesting that the subsequent investigation was much more adversarial than it was. Sully himself says nothing of this so if you liked it for the court scenes the book will be disappointing. If you are interested in the technical details of the landing, you will find much of it irrelevant. 
That said, it was an excellent listen for me, giving me enough to understand better what happened, combined with much insightful revelation of the captain as a human person with a life and a great deal of  interesting background which led him to be in that plane on the fateful day. The bare narrative is gripping, but also a bonus is that Sully himself is more insightful than I expected. One significant aspect of his life is only revealed towards the end which I won't spoil. It told me most about his motivation that day. His parents brought him up with values of public duty and service, and he himself comes over as a man who values competence and the hard work necessary to develop the skills which confer competence. He is a family man, just as keen to get home to the wife and kids as the passengers - people who have done fear of flying courses tell me that this is an emphasised aspect of flying. Don't imagine the pilot doesn't care about getting home, they say! Sully not only wants to get home but wants every single one of his passengers to do so.  And I liked the way he points out that the value of the aircraft was not his main concern!
He takes the opportunity, rightly, to defend and promote the airline business and to make important points about cost-cutting and their effect on safety. Once flying became the norm, this factor devalued it in the minds of passengers, who take much for granted and think little about what it takes to get us home. 
It is a little over-padded with biographical reminiscences but this did not deter me. The reader, Jeffrey Zaslow, I presume a professional reader, becomes rather sing-song and monotonous after a while, and Sully himself takes over towards the last chapters, and is in a way more listenable to for his genuineness. It was interesting how the different reading voices changed my view of Sully's character. Recommended.

An epic experience

I found this fascinating as I have seen the film & I thought this book was going to b the story as told in the film - but the in depth background of this brilliant man's reasoning really opened my eyes to what career pilots have to take on their shoulders every time they fly. I recommended the book to my book club for June & we also have a DVD evening every 6 months which is tonight - needless to say we r watching "SULLY" which will b gr8 4 everyone to know what actually followed after the landing - which is not detailed in the book.

Really enjoyable

It was a great privilege to listen to Capt. Sully story. I have worked as ground handling staff at City of Derry Airport and safety is the number one thing that part of everyday day life in an airport. I since left aviation industry but I love it!